A group of people have taken it upon themselves to clean up the graffiti which has begun to crop up in St.Paul’s Bay, Bugibba and Qawra.

Asked why they begun the clean up, Simon Cutajar told The Malta Independent that his friend, Edward Bonello  came up with the idea after  “it didn't seem like the authorities were going to take any action.”

The localities have been faced with a number with offences with the Christmas tree in Bugibba Square and a number of walls and signs having have been vandalised over the past couple of months.

Mr Cutajar attributes the recent increase of vandalism to a lack of police supervision and to the growth of foreign visitors in the area.

St Paul’s Bay mayor Graziella Galea told this newsroom that following this recent spike in crime, police supervision has been increased in the area and will remain in place until the perpetrators are caught.

The graffiti found in the area is mostly written in Serbian, and, according to a translator, it reads “Hunting season is open”, which is understood to be a taunt between Belgrade football teams, and, according to sources, had raised local concerns that there may be some conflict between communities in the area.

The area, whose foreign population makes up about a third of the community, has previously experienced tensions between the different nationalities.

As recently as October, Moviment Patrijotti Maltin organised a protest against what it was claiming was the building of an illegal mosque in Bugibba. However, all it involved was the change of use and sanctioning of a garage into a prayer room.

The local council objected to the planning application.

Should anyone wish the help, the group will be organizing another clean up next Saturday. More information be found on the ‘Proud to live in St Paul’s Bay’ Facebook page.